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like she was aware of him at all right now. But that’s what it had to be—an act. She couldn’t be pressed up against him and not be thinking about that kiss. Not when he—who had far more experiences in these things—could think of nothing else.
    She leaned over to listen to something de la Haye was saying in a low voice. The sly bastard had done it on purpose! The movement caused her bodice to shift, revealing at least another half inch of the perfect swell of her breasts. Randolph went rigid with rage when de la Haye glanced down into that deep cleft… Bloody hell, the blackguard! Randolph’s fist might have ended up through the other man’s teeth rather than squeezing around his goblet until his knuckles turned white if his aunt hadn’t said something.
    “Is something wrong, nephew?” his aunt Margaret asked with a smile—she loved teasing him about her supposed position of seniority despite their differences in age. “I asked how the siege was going, but I guess you didn’t hear me?” She glanced at Lady Isabel with a little too much understanding.
    The glance acted like a hard shake of sanity. What the hell was he doing? He’d given his word to Douglas that he would ask for his sister. He wouldn’t go back on that. He’d worked too hard to put past mistakes behind him and was careful about everything he did—extremely careful. Besides, Elizabeth Douglas was perfect for him and exactly what he wanted in a wife. She wasn’t just rich, beautiful, and well connected—all of which were important—she loved the excitement of court life as much as he did. She was well versed in many subjects, understood the politics of court, and would be an asset to his plans. He shouldn’t be dallying with her cousin. Admittedly, it wasn’t the first time he’d found himself in an unexpected passionate embrace with a woman, but he sure as hell didn’t go around ravishing virgins. Until today, that is.
    He had to put a stop to this. If his aunt was noticing something between them, anyone could. At the first opportunity, he would talk to Lady Isabel and apologize. As young and inexperienced as she was, she was probably confused, and he didn’t want her to get the wrong idea about what had happened.
    For now, however, he turned his full attention to his aunt, answering her questions about the siege, which frankly wasn’t progressing at all. The English didn’t seem inclined to surrender any time soon, and Randolph knew that if the Scots were going to take the castle before Edward of England marched next summer, they’d have to think of something inventive. He wasn’t going to let Douglas get the better of him, damn it.
    When he’d heard about Thom MacGowan’s climbing skills in rescuing Douglas’s brother, Randolph had gone to his uncle with an idea about putting those skills to use in Edinburgh. But apparently Castle Rock, as the cliff upon which Edinburgh Castle sat was known, was even too dangerous for MacGowan’s extraordinary climbing skills. But Randolph wasn’t giving up completely on the idea of finding a route up through the cliff. It was too tantalizing a prospect. Climbing a cliff no one had ever climbed before to take a castle? It would make him a legend.
    The evening meal wasn’t the prolonged affair of the usual midday meal, and given the Lenten season and that they were in an abbey, it was also fairly subdued. It wasn’t long before the king stood, signaling the unofficial end to the meal, and the others began to follow.
    As soon as Randolph heard Lady Isabel start to thank de la Haye for “such an enjoyable meal,” he was ready.
    “A moment, my lady. If you don’t mind, there is something I would like to talk to you about before you retire.”
    She frowned. If he wasn’t so certain that her indifference was an act, he might think that his request was an imposition.
    “I’m quite tired, my lord. Do you mind if we wait until tomorrow? Sir Gilbert has offered to escort me to the